6 Ways Writing and Running Are Related

Editor’s Note: This post is written by Freddie Tubbs and has been edited for length and clarity. Opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Minneapolis Running.

You probably never thought that writing and running were connected but they are! Running is a physical activity that requires a strong body and a lot of hard work while writing takes creativity and imagination but also persistence. However, these two activities are related in many ways, too.

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6 Ways Writing and Running Are Related

Running and writing call for many similar skills and values but they also work as complementing activities. Here’s how:

1. Both activities require the same attitude.

Running and writing essentially ask for the same attitude – the mindset of “I can do it.” This kind of thinking is sometimes hard to keep up with since life happens in the meantime and people get discouraged. “Running a marathon and writing a book are the same – you need to stick to it no matter what – if you want to finish it, that is. That’s why a “Yes I Can” attitude can be extremely helpful,” explains Angela Bandy, a Psychologist at Bigassignments and Essayroo writer. You can also be a writer in dire need of some strength and this is where you’ll find it – in running.

2. You need to plan carefully for both running and writing.

Before you start doing either of these activities, you first need to focus on planning. Running requires planning so that you can gradually increase the time that you run on a daily or a weekly basis. Writing requires planning so that you don’t get lost on your way in all of those chapters. In both cases, planning is essential since, without it, the body or the mind can get overwhelmed.

3. Motivation is necessary.

Without motivation, you probably won’t get very far. But, with motivation, you’ll be able to reach all of your goals. Keep reminding yourself of why you are doing it. Jose Hill, a Personal Coach at Revieweal, comments, “You want to run a marathon so that you can prove to yourself that you are not weak. You want to finish that book to finally have a voice that people want to hear. In both cases, motivation is extremely important.” One way you can build motivation is to write daily so that it can be an additional activity and venting space for you or, if you are a writer, run daily so that you can release some of the stress and clear your mind.

4. You just need to start.

Most people think about writing or running for months before actually doing them (and some people don’t do them even then!) What you can do instead is start running or writing the moment you get the idea, or if you have been pondering the idea, start right away. Thinking about running or writing will get you nowhere. But if you begin, you can end up finishing the marathon or that book you have always dreamed of writing. If you really want to get a head start in writing and journaling, you can use one of the free online tools like Oxessays.

5. Practice makes both activities easier.

Keep practicing your favorite activity. The more you run the better you are on a marathon and the more strength you have to finish it completely. The same thing goes for writing – the more you are writing, the better you are at doing it and the more you get into the routine of writing and it will be easier for you every day. One of the key elements of practice is to write free of any doubt and fear of criticism. This is where tools like Stateofwriting and Ukwritings can come in handy since they offer excellent guides on writing freely.

6. Persistence is the key to success.

Being persistent is the most important element of both running and writing but it’s also the key element of any other job. You can’t finish a marathon without some persistence in your blood just like you cannot finish a book without it. And both of these activities can be a practice of persistence to each other. No matter if you are a runner or a writer, you need to practice persistence daily to achieve the best results. Keep in mind that you love what you are doing and that you really don’t want to give up.

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Writing and running are more alike than you might think. Both activities call for persistence, motivation, and practice. Running is a good thing to take up if you are a busy writer spending most of your time in front of a screen or simply inside. Writing could be just as beneficial for runners as a way to relieve some stress. If you want to be successful in either of these activities, you’ll need a certain skill set and mindset. If you are, for example, a writer needing help in being persistent, running might help you and vice versa. Essentially, with both activities, the most important thing is that you are having fun!

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